Long football layoff hasn’t prevented former UTSA track star from getting physical

ARLINGTON – One of the most impressive things about Teddy Williams’ fumble recovery of a muffed punt in the fourth quarter in Thursday night’s loss to the Raiders was the way the Cowboys rookie and former UTSA sprinter fought for the ball and then took a hard hit.

After Shaun Bodiford followed a fair catch signal with the muff, Williams outfought cornerback Walter McFadden for the ball. Seconds later, he absorbed a bruising hit from another Oakland player.

Not bad for a guy who last played football five years ago.

“I knew (the hit) was coming,” Williams said. “But I was just being a gunner and getting down field. I looked up and noticed that he dropped the ball right after he did his fair catch signal. I saw the ball hit the ground and I knew it was live and I went in there full speed. The guy (McFadden) actually had the ball and I took it from him and then I just curled up into a ball. That’s what we are taught to do, curl up in a ball and be prepared for the contact that is coming.”

Williams, who also saw time at cornerback in the second half, was asked how difficult it’s been handling contact again.

“It wasn’t too hard,” he said. “I talked to one of my track coaches about that when I first decided to come back to football and he said, ‘Are you ready to get hit?’ I was like, ‘Sometimes, coach, in this San Antonio heat, I’d rather get hit everyday at practice then come out and run on this track in 100-degree weather.’ It’s cool. I’m a pretty physical guy myself. Contact is something I like.”

And, unlike some of his veteran teammates, Williams can’t wait to get to practice each day.

“I just love strapping up my helmet, putting on my pads, putting on my cleats every day,” he said. “It’s just a great feeling to be able to get on the field every day and compete. I want to show the world I can play professional football.”